Watching and listening with moments of tears and laughter, the crowd at Thursday’s Lubbock Chamber Commerce Community Prayer Luncheon focused on keynote speakers Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck’s message of friendship and faith.

Speaking at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, the two described their 500-mile pilgrimage through the Camino de Santiago in Spain, with Gray pushing his wheelchair-bound friend Skeesuck, who was introduced to the crowd by a clip from their upcoming documentary, "I’ll Push You."

"I never would have made it without my best friend saying ‘yes,’ " Skeesuck said about how Gray agreed to the journey.

For the men, the trip along the historic European trail was a major milestone in their 40-plus-year friendship.

The two developed a friendship as they grew up the small town of Ontario, Oregon.

At the age of 16, Skeesuck was playing soccer when he his left foot went limp. Several doctor visits, diagnoses and years later, he learned he had a condition called Multifocal Acquired Motor Axonopathy, which he describes as a very rare, progressive autoimmune disease — similar to ALS.

What began from the waist down moved toward the upper half of his body in 2010, when he noticed weakness in his upper-right shoulder.

Forty-five days later, he had lost 60 to 70 percent of the use of his arm, which has since progressed through his torso.

Across a wide-screen monitor in the Civic Center, the words "Deep Dark Hole" were on display as he told of sadness and darkness as he came to the realization that he would have to depend on others for everyday tasks.

Gray’s voice broke as he told the audience about the difficult conversation with his friend, saying it pained him to know Skeesuck, a father of three, would be unable to continue his career as a graphic designer, let alone tickle his kids and wrestle with his boys.

Skeesuck said he worried about how he would be able to help his wife.

Though his prayer felt unanswered, Gray said he eventually came to the realization that he was the answer. He would serve his friend in any way he could.

That thought was put to the test when Skeesuck asked him to go on this voyage with him after being inspired by an episode of "Rick Steves’ Europe."

"He said, ‘I’ll push you,’ " Skeesuck said of Gray.

The rest was history as the trip began with the two and their EMT friend Ted Hardy.

Equipped with a three-wheeled wheelchair and slings, the men began their voyage in France, making their way to the Cathedral in Santiago by passing through steep ranges of the Pyrenees, rivers and mud — lots of it.

While Hardy left a few days later, the two were determined to complete their trip, which was made possible through the kindness of strangers.

Calling his medical condition humbling as he relies on others for assistance, Skeesuck said he was amazed by the amount of support by those he met along the way.

"When you let people into your journey," he said, "amazing things can happen."

With the pressures of today’s world, Diannah Tatum, Lubbock Chamber of Commerce board chairwoman, said the message the men spread during the national day of prayer was critical.

Saying there was not a "dry eye in the house," Tatum said the men’s story of tribulation and triumph is inspirational as people focus on prayer and the importance of prayer for city, state and national government.

"You just need hope and prayer," Tatum said. "That’s what it’s about, is giving us hope. If you listen to Patrick and Justin, those are two people pulling together, and they are the true meaning of hope and using prayer and God in their lives and just a true blessing for all of us."

Gray said prayer for him and his friend is a way for them to acknowledge things that are beyond their control, and it was their faith that helped make their trek possible.

"We’ve got to be willing to step in, regardless of the walls that separate us. We’ve got to love each other and be God’s answer to prayer," Gray said.

For more information on their documentary, or how to obtain a copy of their book, visit https://www.illpushyou.com/.

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